TAMPA — Republican political activist Sam Rashid has joined the list of those vying for a seat on the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority's governing board, which oversees Tampa International Airport.

Rashid, 51, is an east Hillsborough County businessman and prominent fundraiser for GOP candidates and causes. He's also the CEO of a Plant City company, Holtec USA, which is the American arm of a German manufacturer of specialized sawing equipment.

Rashid was a friend of Steve Burton, the former chairman of the aviation authority who died on April 21. Gov. Rick Scott appointed Burton's replacement on Tuesday: Martin Garcia, 57, a Tampa attorney who served as Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's campaign chair in 2010.

But the term of board member Dr. Joseph Diaco is expiring soon. Diaco reapplied for his position. He and Rashid are among the 22 candidates who want to join the board.

Also applying are former Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa City Council member Tom Scott; retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Arthur "Chip" Diehl III, who served at MacDill Air Force Base: and A.D. "Sandy" MacKinnon, Tampa businessman and husband of former County Commissioner Dottie Berger MacKinnon.

The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA has named Matt Mitchell its new chief executive officer, effective Oct. 16. Selected by the Y's CEO Search Committee following a five-month search, Mitchell will succeed Tom Looby, who is retiring. Looby has served the Y Movement for 37 years, the past 10 …

All of Florida's 97,000 state prison inmates are on lockdown — and will remain confined to their dorms at least through the weekend — in response to unspecified threats about possible uprisings, officials from the Florida Department of Corrections confirmed Thursday.